Solar Energy Company Comes to Vacaville

Revolve Solar would lease him solar panels on his house for 25 years to provide him electricity. The rate would stay a flat $83 a month for the duration.

“I’m on a fixed income now,” Beals said. “I need to be real careful about how I manage my expenses.”

Now he will be protected from Pacific, Gas & Electric Co. rate hikes, he said.

Revolve Solar sells and installs solar systems. It opened on West Texas Street in Fairfield in June and recently moved to 871 Cotting Court, Suite D, in Vacaville.

“We’re converting people from dirty energy to clean energy,” said Ken Stout, sales manager for the local office.

Revolve Solar is based in Austin, Texas. It has a California office in Redding, as well as the new Vacaville office.

Stout attended Vacaville High School and Solano Community College, as well as San Jose State University. He started the Live Music Center music store in Vacaville in 1987 and worked at that business for 20 years. He sold the Live Music Center in 2006 and got involved with solar energy.

California has a Go Solar California campaign put on by the state Energy Commission and the state Public Utilities Commission. It calls for having residents of the state install 3,000 megawatts of solar energy systems at homes and businesses by 2017. Another goal is to produce 400 megawatts of solar electricity on about 160,000 homes.

Stout makes the pitch that Revolve Solar is better suited to serve Solano County customers than the bigger solar companies.

“What we want to do is offer a community service,” Stout said. “We are here for the community. The other companies, they just what to go in, make their money and get out. Our history is to service and maintain our clients locally.”

Beals looked at having solar panels on his roof about five years ago. A person from a solar energy company looked at his house and told him the project wouldn’t be feasible because of the orientation of his house. Beals didn’t forget about renewable energy.

“If I could put a windmill up in my yard because I get the Delta breeze, I would do that,” he said with a laugh. “But my neighbors would certainly object to that.”

More recently, somebody from Revolve Solar knocked on his door.

“This guy was so patient in answering my questions,” Beals said. “Usually, I tell those guys who knock on my door to get lost. . . . He gave me a flier, spent some time with me and explained the program and how it works as a lease.”

Technology in the solar industry has apparently advanced over the past few years. Beals learned he could indeed have solar energy generated at his house, and with panels only on about half the garage roof at that.

Installers from Revolve Solar came to his house a couple of weeks ago and installed the panels. Stout sees a lot more solar panels in Solano County’s future.

“Homeowners, business owners, government, they’re going to be the solution for creating power in the community,” Stout said.

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

About Revolve Solar

Revolve Solar is a residential and commercial solar design and installation company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded by entrepreneur Tim Padden, Revolve commenced operations in early 2012 and quickly replicated its formula to compete in the Redding, Chico, and Vacaville, CA markets. Continued expansion in California and elsewhere and further growth in the commercial sector are anticipated for 2015. RevolveSolar.com